Controls
- Joystick: Use the 8-way joystick to make Kagekiyo run (if he is in his smaller form) and walk (if he is in his larger form) left and right, crouch, and hold his sword high in the air (if he is in his larger form). On Overhead Mode stages, Kagekiyo will run in whatever direction the joystick is pushed.
- Attack Button: Use this button to make Kagekiyo swing his sword at the enemies. If you hold it down, while Kagekiyo is in his larger form, he will hold it up in front of himself - also, if he collects a Makimono while he is in his larger form, his right arm will start revolving in a clockwise direction.
- Jump Button: Use this button to make Kagekiyo jump. He can jump to the same height (regardless of whether he is in his smaller or larger form).
- 1 or 2 Player Buttons: Push these buttons to begin a 1 or 2 player game.
Characters
Taira no Kagekiyo (平景清)
The protagonist of the game. Having fallen at the battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185, he has now been resurrected over 800 years later and has to make his way over the Imperial Regalia of Japan - fighting other characters who actually existed such as Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Saito Musashibo Benkei, and Minamoto no Yoritomo on his travels. The amount of energy Kagekiyo starts the game with depends on what the arcade operator has set the "Candle" dip switch setting to (40, 50, 60 or 70) and he can increase it by collecting the "Inochi" (blue orbs) that some of the enemies leave behind when killed. However, any kind of contact with enemies will cause injury to Kagekiyo - and if he runs out of energy, he will explode and the game will immediately be over.
Kagekiyo also starts the game with a sword power of 7 (〇七), and can increase it by collecting "Ken" (purple orbs) that some other enemies leave behind when killed; however, if he strikes something that cannot be destroyed, it will cause his sword power to decrease (unless he's collected the glowing Tsurugi Sword). Finally, he starts the game without any Zeni (green orbs) at all - but he can collect the ones that some other enemies leave behind when killed in order to collect Swords, Tawara, and Candles and increase his sword power and energy.
Small and Overhead Mode Enemies
Skull Spider (骸骨) - These cranial arachnoid insects are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, and will leave a Zeni that is worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Gaki (餓鬼) - These brats are worth 100 (一〇〇) points and will not leave anything behind - but their generators will leave an Inochi worth 2 (二).
Dokuraku (独楽) - These tops are worth 100 (一〇〇) points and won't leave anything behind - but their generators will leave an Inochi worth 2 (二).
Namazu (鯰) - These catfish, like those Skull Spiders, are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, and will leave a Zeni that is worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Jigokusha (地獄車) - These flaming wheel-like skulls are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, and will leave a Zeni that is worth 1 (一) behind, when killed.
Wolf (狼) - These predatory mammals are worth 100 (一〇〇) points and will, for a sixth time, leave a Zeni that is worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Yahei (矢) - These arrowfiring bowmen are worth 100 (一〇〇) points when killed, but will again not leave anything behind for Kagekiyo to collect.
Onihime (鬼姫) - These demon princesses are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, and for an 8th time leave a Zeni that is worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Heiankyo (平安京) - These extraterrestrial aliens are worth 1000 (一〇〇〇) points and will leave one Zeni that is worth 3 (三) behind when killed.
Fuujin (風神) - This big green-skinned wind god is worth 500 (五〇〇) points, and will leave a Zeni that is worth 5 (五) behind when killed.
Raijin (雷神) - This lightning god, like the Fuujin, is worth 500 (五〇〇) points, and will leave a Zeni that is worth 5 (五) behind when killed.
Daimajin (魔神) - This enormous evil spirit is worth 1000 (一〇〇〇) points, and will leave an Inochi that is worth 7 (七) behind when killed.
Ryu (竜) - This enormous Oriental dragon is worth 1000 (一〇〇〇) points and will leave a Ken that is worth 3 (三) behind when killed.
Mitsukubiryu (三首竜) - This three-headed Ryu type is worth 1000 (一〇〇〇) points, and will leave a Ken that is worth 5 (五).
Daidokuraku (大独楽) - These enormous tops are worth 500 (五〇〇) points, and will leave a Zeni that is worth 10 (十, 一〇) behind when killed.
Shakutorimushi (尺取虫) - These enormous inchworms are indestructible, and will decrease Kagekiyo's Ken power by 1 (一) if he hits one.
Mukade (大百足) - These enormous caterpillars are worth 1000 (一〇〇〇) points, and will leave just a Doku Kinoko behind.
Yari Gaikotsu (槍骸骨) - These spear-wielding skeletons are worth 100 (一〇〇) points and will leave a Zeni that worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Gaikotsu Bune (骸骨船) - These boat-rowing skeletions are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, and will leave a Ken worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Honeinu (骨犬) - These skeletal dogs are worth 100 (一〇〇) points when killed - but will again not leave anything behind, for Kagekiyo to collect.
Hiushi (火牛) - These cattle (or AC adaptors) are worth 100 (一〇〇) points - and will leave an Inochi that is worth 3 (三) behind, when killed.
Chimoguri Kouke (地潜り公家) - These submerging aristocrats are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, and will leave Zeni worth 5 (五) behind when killed.
Kishokugan (魂喰眼) - Finally, these eye-eating souls are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, and will leave a Zeni that is worth 1 (一) behind, when killed.
Stone Lion (狛犬) - These predatory feline mammals are worth 500 (五〇〇) points, and will leave a bonus character behind when killed - it will either be a Galaxian Flagship (
), a Rally-X Special Flag (
), a Libble Rabble Hoblin (
), or a generic red car (
), all four of which are worth 1000 (一〇〇〇) points. Unlike the first three bonus characters, the generic red car was created specifically for this game and had no previous appearances.
Big Mode Enemies
Monkey (猿) - These long-tailed white primates are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, and will leave a Zeni that is worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Kaeru (かえる) - These green frogs are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, but will only leave a Doku Kinoko (poisonous mushroom) behind when killed.
Moth (蛾) - These butterflylike insects are worth 100 (一〇〇) points when killed but will again not leave anything behind for Kagekiyo to collect.
Dokuro (骸骨) - These skulls are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, but will again only leave a Doku Kinoko (poisonous mushroom) behind when killed.
Inazuma (イナズマ) - These lightning bolts are indestructible - and will cause Kagekiyo's Ken power to decrease by 1 (一), if he hits one of them.
Hitodama (人魂) - These skull fireballs are worth 100 (一〇〇) points when killed but will again not leave anything behind for Kagekiyo to collect.
Hannya (般若) - These purple perfectionings of wisdom are worth 100 (一〇〇) points and will leave a Ken that's worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Tiger (虎) - These large feline mammals are worth 200 (二〇〇) points, and will leave a Zeni that worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Ya (矢) - These enormous flaming-tipped arrows are worth 200 (二〇〇) points, and will leave a Zeni that is worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Gaikotsu (骸骨) - These enormous sword-wielding skeletons are worth 200 (二〇〇) points - and will leave Inochi worth 2 (二) behind.
Tekyuu (鉄球) - These black spiked balls are indestructible, and will cause Kagekiyo's Ken power to decrease by 1 (一) if he strikes one of them.
Saito Musashibo Benkei (西塔武蔵坊弁慶) - This warrior monk is worth 2000 (二〇〇〇) points - and will leave one Ken worth 1 (一).
Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源義経) - This clan general is worth 2000 (二〇〇〇) points and will leave a Ken worth 1 (一) behind when killed.
Biwa Houshi (琵琶法師) - This hovering lute player is indestructible - and will always stay ahead of Kagekiyo on the right side of the screen.
Usagi (うさぎ) - These outlined rabbits are worth 100 (一〇〇) points, but will only leave a Doku Inoko (poisonous mushroom) behind, when killed.
Kame (かめ) - These outlined turtles are worth 100 (一〇〇) points - but will again leave a Doku Inoko (poisonous mushroom) behind when killed.
Minamoto no Yoritomo (源頼朝) - And Kagekiyo must have all three sacred items in his possession in order to defeat his arch-enemy.
Bird (鳥) - If Kagekiyo takes too long over any Big Mode stage, one of these egg-laying mammals will slowly appear in that top-left corner of the screen and start flying around above him - they are worth 100 (一〇〇) points and will leave a Zeni worth 1 (一) behind when killed, but a maximum of nineteen more will slowly appear in the top-left corner of the screen and start flying around above Kagekiyo as he kills them and collects their left Zeni.
Items
Makimono (巻物)
When Kagekiyo collects one of these scrolls in a Small Mode stage, he will gain the ability to fire beams across the screen with a swing of his sword for a short period of time - however, when he collects one in a Big Mode stage, his right arm will start revolving in a clockwise direction.
Tsuzura (つづら)
When Kagekiyo strikes these boxes with his sword to open them, the contents will either increase his sword power (if they contain a statue), his treasure (if they contain a mushroom), or his energy (if they contain a crystal ball) - eight of them also surround the head of Emma-O at the end of the "Pit Stage", and he'll decide the fate of Kagekiyo when he strikes one of them with his sword to open it. The result of Emma-O's decisions usually means an instant death for Kagekiyo - but he will sometimes choose to warp him (forward or back) to the standard thirteenth stage of the game instead.
Ken (紫)
When Kagekiyo collects these purple orbs that some of the enemies leave behind when killed, they will increase his sword power, up to a maximum of 99 (九九); but as mentioned above, if he strikes something that cannot be destroyed, his sword power will decrease by 1 (一).
Zeni (緑)
When Kagekiyo collects these green orbs that some of the other enemies leave behind when killed, they will increase his treasure, up to a maximum of 99 (九九); they can be used for the collection of the Swords and Tawara and the entering of the pool of lava in the "Pit Stage".
Inochi (青)
When Kagekiyo collects these blue orbs that some of the other enemies leave behind when killed, they will increase his energy; also, when he enters a torii at the end of a stage, and dematerializes with an energy of 39 or lower, he will rematerialize with his energy restored to 40.
Chairo (茶色)
These brown orbs are only present in the non-standard Small Mode stage known as the "Bonus Stage", in which the Sun Goddess Amaterasu flies around at the top of the screen, dropping powerups on Kagekiyo; his only goal in this stage is to collect as many of them as he can before the song he is hearing of from the Yamaha YM-2151 fades out, at which point he will automatically dematerialize and proceed to the next stage. When he collects one of these brown orbs, it will increase his energy capacity by 1 (up to a maximum of 3-6) - however, if he falls down a hole in a later Small Mode stage and ends up in that "Pit Stage", then enters the pool of lava with the maximum amount of Zeni, his energy capacity will be restored to its original amount.
Sword (剣)
When Kagekiyo collects this large version of his weapon in a Small Mode stage, it will increase his sword power by 3 (三), at a cost of 10 (一〇) Zeni; but if he has less than the required amount of Zeni, he will just run through it as if it was not there (like many items in The Return of Ishtar).
Tawara (俵)
When Kagekiyo collects one of these bales in a Small Mode stage, it will increase his energy by 10, at a cost of 10 (一〇) Zeni; again, if he has less than the required amount of Zeni, he will just run through it as if it was not there (which is bad news, if you have the energy of 10 or lower).
Candle (蝋燭)
When Kagekiyo collects one of these representations of his energy in a Small Mode stage, it will increase his energy by 10 (and will also increase his energy capacity by 1) at no cost to his remaining Zeni; it will also restore his energy to its original amount (plus the extra 10 he's just received).
Doku Kinoko (毒キノコ)
When Kagekiyo collects one of these poisonous mushrooms that some of the other enemies leave behind when killed, his energy will decrease by 1; it is therefore advisable to either wait until they have disappeared or jump over them, before continuing to the right, as they could cost you.
Sacred Items
- Kagami Mirror (八咒鏡): Makes Kagekiyo invulnerable to lightning attacks.
- Tsurugi Sword (草薙剣): Prevents Kagekiyo's sword power from going down.
- Magatama Jewel (八坂瓊曲玉): Makes Kagekiyo invulnerable to the poisonous mushrooms that some enemies leave behind when killed.